October 1, 2010

September 29, 2010

The doors still haven't quite opened up at the Paris Motor Show and already the leakage has begun in full force. Yesterday we got a sneak peek at the Lamborghini Sesto Elemento Concept, but the lone photo was small and grainy. Thankfully, the wait for real images is now over mere minutes before the car is officially unveiled at an evening event held by the Volkswagen Group in Paris as we speak. A total of five shots of the carbon-intensive supercar have just hit the interwebs, and they didn't come from Lamborghini.

To put it mildly, we like what we see. As could be seen in the series of teasers officially let loose by the boys from Lamborghini, every single bit of the car has been fashioned from carbon fiber. Suitable, then, that the car has been named after the sixth element of the periodic table – Sesto Elemento literally means sixth element in Italian. Even the tailpipes have been fashioned from a sort of composite called Pyrosic that is able to withstand extremely high temperatures.

Those high exhaust temperatures will be exhaled by a V10 engine that's putting out a stonkin' 570 horsepower. With just 2,200 pounds of weight to move, the run to 60 will take less than 2.5 seconds.

In the market for a mid-size SUV / Crossover vehicle? Can you hold out just a little while longer? If you can, then you may want to give VW’s second generation Touareg SUV a drive when it hits dealer showrooms later this fall. For diesel fans, this is very good news since the Touareg will be back with a TDI clean diesel variant. Unfortunately, the V10 turbodiesel and it’s stump pulling 553 ft lb of torque won’t be used in second generation, but there’s still enough grunt in the new oil burner to keep torque fans happy.

The 2011 Touareg will be offered with three motor options, beginning with a 3.6 liter V6 (280 horsepower, 265 ft lb of torque) that gets 23 mpg highway and 19 mpg city. A new hybrid version, available next spring, gives you a supercharged 3.0 liter V6 coupled with an electric motor that yields a combined 380 horsepower and 428 ft lb of torque, while returning an estimated 25 mpg highway. Finally, the aforementioned 3.0 liter turbodiesel will get you 225 horsepower and an impressive 406 ft lb of torque, while netting you 28 mpg highway and 19 mpg city. All motor choices shift through a new eight speed automatic transmission, and all Touareg models come with VW’s 4MOTION all wheel drive system. Finally, all engine options are rated to tow up to 7,700 pounds when equipped with the factory installed tow package.

Several Trim levels are planned, including Sport, Lux, Hybrid and Executive. All include an 8” touchscreen nav and infotainment system, Sirius Satellite Radio, HID headlights, rearview camera, power adjustable and heated front seats and dual zone climate controls. All Touareg models include six airbags, an improved head restraint system, ABS, traction control and electronic stability control. Expect pricing to start at around $41,000 for a 3.6 liter V6 Sport.

What is it? A plug-in hybrid that Porsche says is capable of lapping the “Nordschleife of Nürburgring in less than 7:30 minutes, faster than even the Porsche Carrera GT.” What’s more, Porsche says fuel economy should be somewhere around 78 miles per gallon. How does it do it? The 918 Spyder concept is powered by a 500-horsepower gasoline V-8 and electric motors on the front and rear axle (the two electric motors make a combined 160 kilowatts of power, or the equivalent of 218 horsepower). Total power output is 718 horsepower. Porsche is not saying whether the 918 Spyder concept will go into production, but don’t bet against it. The technology is just too promising, the styling too delectable.

How’s it look? Finally Porsche styling turns a new page. Gorgeous in every facet, except an odd rear angle, where you can see the face of Donald Duck. Kudos to Porsche for faking out the prying press corps and delivering Geneva’s one great surprise. Hit of the show.

There seems to be some confusion (in the comments) about the tech specs of the 918 Spyder. In our short-form, quick-hit format, we list all the highlights, but in striving for expediency, our description of the 918 Spyder may have conveyed a sense of a supercar that can do all things, at once. But it can’t. The 918 Spyder is not capable of 78 miles per gallon and 198 miles per hour top speed and 3.2-second zero-to-60 acceleration and lapping the Nordschiefe in under 7:30 minutes. It is capable of each of those things, but in various of its four driving modes, listed here:

E-Drive Mode: This is an all-electric mode in which the gaudy fuel economy number is achieved. Range is mere 16 miles in this mode.

Hybrid Mode: Power is modulated between the gas engine and electric motors in some thrifty but largely unexplained manner. Performance numbers in this mode are not given.

Sport Hybrid Mode: Produces more power, but with Torque Vectoring, and power biased toward the rear wheels. Again, performance numbers in this mode are not given.

Expect to see some abashing orange on the alley actual anon as Dutch car makers Spyker accept appear that a limited-edition LM85 will anon hit the anchorage and this one will be a street-legal adaptation of the acclaimed chase car. A Street-Legal adaptation of C8 Laviolette GT2-R racecar, accepted as the C8 Laviolette LM85 will anon be accessible but will be bound to absolute 24 cartage that will booty shape.Spyker additionally appear that it will be assuming a pre-production archetypal of its accessible C8 Aileron sports car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. The car will accept a 4.2L agent laying bottomward 400 hp and 354 lb-ft. of torque. It tips the scales at 3,142 lbs. and should additionally top out at 187 mph. The Aileron should do 0 to 62 mph in a hardly beneath extreme, but still absorbing 4.5 seconds.While no added capacity accept been accustomed apropos the LM85’s latest alley version, it will be added than account the delay back it absolutely hits the road. Keep an eye out for this babyish back it rolls out but additionally be assured that it will bake a aperture through your abridged and more!